§ Mr. Peter Shore (Bethnal Green and Stepney)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is now some four hours since there was a Division in another place in which a major defeat was inflicted on the Government. It was no ordinary defeat because the Government were defeated on an amendment which disembowels the entire purpose of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill. Entirely new circumstances now confront us. It is surely astonishing, in the light of those major events and because they occurred four hours ago, that the Secretary of State for the Environment is not here. One would have thought that he would be in his place representing the Department of the Environment.
In view of the importance of these events for the House, the Government's programme and the country, surely we can expect from the Leader of the House an early statement on the Government's intentions—preferably tonight.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have no knowledge of any Division in another place.
§ Mr. David Steel (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. There is one point of relevance to the House. I understand that, having suffered the defeat, Ministers have made statements to the Press and on television—but not to the House—about their intentions in regard to the Bill. Surely that is a matter for this House.
§ Mr. ShoreFurther to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is remarkable that the Secretary of State for the Environment is not here. Apparently he is addressing the nation on television. Can we at least get an immediate promise from the Leader of the House that the Secretary of State will be here tomorrow to make a statement on the future of the Government's programme?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot deal with a point of order on a Division in another place about which I have no official knowledge. The Bill in question is in the possession of another place and this House has received no message.
§ Mr. Allan Roberts (Bootle)Further to the point of order, Mr. Speaker—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. No further point of order can arise.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I cannot answer for a Division in another place.
§ The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. John Biffen)For the purposes of "Erskine May" and for posterity, I should explain that my sartorial precedent of wearing my own dinner jacket and the tie loaned to me by the Minister of State, Welsh Office, is a sign of my anxiety to respond to the wishes of the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) at, as I am sure he would agree, very short notice.
1253 I recognise that the vote taken earlier in the other place is most significant. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] The plaudits tell me where Socialism finds its succour these days. The matter will be considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Treasury Bench generally, and the Government's intentions wil be made known in due course.
The House will realise that the Bill will return to this House so that it may pitch its authority alongside that of the other place. Furthermore, fair-minded Members will recognise that the Government will wish to take a due and measured course in considering their judgment.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. No further point of order can arise.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. No further points of order can arise. What does the right hon. Member for Bethnal Green and Stepney (Mr. Shore) expect me to say in answer to what the Leader of the House has said?
§ Mr. ShoreOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It is normal for a right hon. Member to have the opportunity of further questioning the Leader of the House, who has just made a statement of great importance.
We wish to register the obvious and simple point that it is not good enough for the Leader of the House to tell the House that the Secretary of State for the Environment will make a statement in due course when the House and the country demand that he make an early statement, and that he makes it tomorrow.